Physics 1028A/1029B

BackgroundPhysics 1028A & Physics 1029B, 2010-2011, first term and second term respectively. Even though the man is very brilliant in his area of expertise, Professor Martin Zinke Allmang is probably one of the most confusing professors you will ever listen to. He will highlight the main basic concepts of each lecture on a Powerpoint presentation, and then proceed to swamp you with great detail over each slide in his thick German accent.

ReviewWhen it came to his quizzes and tests, I felt he was very generous because they were all done online...if you get my drift. The quizzes are easy if you studied for them, and you usually get a few chances to do perfect on them. However, his online unit tests can range from easy to extremely difficult. Some of the questions on his tests will be difficult because of his complicated writing style. He includes irrelevant information, and uses ambigious multiple choice options (Ex. “d. Nothing” and “e. None of the above statements”). Luckily, some of the questions come from the book, and his lectures. His exams will be harder and much more trickier than any of the unit tests. There are two portions to his exams, the multiple choice and the short answer. The short answer questions are usually straightforward, but the multiple choice portion is very difficult. Nevertheless, Zinke does bell curve the exam marks to a 75% average, making his exams less daunting.

If you ever feel that you only understand 5% of what Zinke is talking about, do not worry, with time, after going to every lecture, you will begin to register 25% or more of what he says. What matters most is the material on the slides, which are the main concepts, because that is what he will focus on throughout the entire course. Reading the textbook and going over the example questions is very helpful. Best thing to do for his class, (as with any other); is to read over the material beforehand to get the gist of what he will talk about. If you have any questions that concern you, ask him at the end of class, or during his available office hours, because he is very clear and understandable when you discuss with him individually.. I found that when I listened to his lectures online, I was able to fully understand what he was saying!

AdviceFor his exams, which are worth 50% of your mark, the best thing to do; after learning the entire course; is to study the past exams. Even if there is not enough time to look over the lectures or study the book, at least do the past exams because they HELP A LOT! At least 80% of the questions on the exam will be similar in nature to the questions from previous exams. The past exams will help you learn how to approach and answer the exam questions. When reading a question on his exam, know which main concepts are being applied, and very carefully scan to see if there are any tricks involved in his question. Double check your answers always! In addition, do not stress out during or after the exam, because he will bell curve it a lot, guaranteed.

DisclosureI am in the Biomedical Program at the University of Western Ontario. My motivation for taking this course was that it is easier than the other Physics course, and I found Biophysics interesting. Most of the content covered in this course reiterates Grade 12 Physics, but more in depth. This course appears difficult because Biophysics is sometimes complicated, but overall it is not that hard, as long as you study and ask questions. Professor Zinke is a difficult lecturer to understand, but he is not a bad professor, just remember to talk to him individually and you will do well in this course.

Written by Shiva (shiva_man72@hotmail.com)

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